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Questions and Answers
What does effective population size (Ne) represent?
What does effective population size (Ne) represent?
Which condition does NOT need to be met for Ne to equal actual population size (N)?
Which condition does NOT need to be met for Ne to equal actual population size (N)?
What happens to the effective population size if not all individuals contribute equally to the next generation?
What happens to the effective population size if not all individuals contribute equally to the next generation?
What is the fraction of individuals that are heterozygous for a particular locus referred to as?
What is the fraction of individuals that are heterozygous for a particular locus referred to as?
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Why is effective population size often lower than actual population size?
Why is effective population size often lower than actual population size?
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Which of the following statements is true regarding effective population size?
Which of the following statements is true regarding effective population size?
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Under what circumstances would Ne equal N?
Under what circumstances would Ne equal N?
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What is the impact of a population experiencing 'drift' under certain conditions?
What is the impact of a population experiencing 'drift' under certain conditions?
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What is the effective population size (Ne) if the population has a balanced sex ratio and all individuals contribute equally to the next generation?
What is the effective population size (Ne) if the population has a balanced sex ratio and all individuals contribute equally to the next generation?
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What happens to the effective population size (Ne) when not all individuals contribute equally to the next generation?
What happens to the effective population size (Ne) when not all individuals contribute equally to the next generation?
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What is the Minimum Viable Population size (MVP)?
What is the Minimum Viable Population size (MVP)?
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In the example of Grizzly bears, if N is 700 and Ne is 175, what percentage of the population is represented by Ne?
In the example of Grizzly bears, if N is 700 and Ne is 175, what percentage of the population is represented by Ne?
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What is a potential impact of a female-biased sex ratio in a population?
What is a potential impact of a female-biased sex ratio in a population?
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Which of the following factors does NOT affect the Minimum Viable Population size (MVP)?
Which of the following factors does NOT affect the Minimum Viable Population size (MVP)?
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What conservation action could help reduce the loss of genetic diversity in a population like the Grizzly bears?
What conservation action could help reduce the loss of genetic diversity in a population like the Grizzly bears?
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Which situation could lead to decreased genetic diversity in a population?
Which situation could lead to decreased genetic diversity in a population?
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What primarily makes small populations vulnerable to extinction?
What primarily makes small populations vulnerable to extinction?
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What is the consequence of inbreeding depression in small populations?
What is the consequence of inbreeding depression in small populations?
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Which animal is mentioned as having successfully increased its genetic variation through introduction of individuals from larger populations?
Which animal is mentioned as having successfully increased its genetic variation through introduction of individuals from larger populations?
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What is a key characteristic of an extinction vortex?
What is a key characteristic of an extinction vortex?
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In conservation biology, what is the effect of a population bottleneck?
In conservation biology, what is the effect of a population bottleneck?
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How does genetic variability affect a population's ability to adapt to environmental changes?
How does genetic variability affect a population's ability to adapt to environmental changes?
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What conservation strategy is implied to be necessary for declining populations?
What conservation strategy is implied to be necessary for declining populations?
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What role does human activity play in ecosystem communities?
What role does human activity play in ecosystem communities?
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What is the primary effect of invasive species on native species distributions?
What is the primary effect of invasive species on native species distributions?
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Which of the following best describes overharvesting?
Which of the following best describes overharvesting?
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What is one major consequence of acid precipitation?
What is one major consequence of acid precipitation?
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What phenomenon describes the increase in concentration of toxics as you move up the food chain?
What phenomenon describes the increase in concentration of toxics as you move up the food chain?
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What is one potential effect of global warming on species?
What is one potential effect of global warming on species?
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What type of diversity involves the variety of ecosystems in a given area?
What type of diversity involves the variety of ecosystems in a given area?
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What status category applies to species facing an imminent risk of extinction?
What status category applies to species facing an imminent risk of extinction?
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How does human activity primarily affect ecosystems?
How does human activity primarily affect ecosystems?
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What is the primary reason humans should protect biodiversity?
What is the primary reason humans should protect biodiversity?
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Which statement accurately describes biodiversity hot spots?
Which statement accurately describes biodiversity hot spots?
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How do ecosystem functions benefit human populations?
How do ecosystem functions benefit human populations?
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What percentage of plant species is found in only 0.5% of Earth's land area?
What percentage of plant species is found in only 0.5% of Earth's land area?
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What aspect does conservation biology specifically integrate?
What aspect does conservation biology specifically integrate?
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What significance do strong emotional, cultural, and spiritual connections with nature have?
What significance do strong emotional, cultural, and spiritual connections with nature have?
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What alarming trend related to biodiversity was reported by WWF in 2018?
What alarming trend related to biodiversity was reported by WWF in 2018?
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Which factor contributes to the current loss of biodiversity?
Which factor contributes to the current loss of biodiversity?
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What is a key goal of captive-breeding programs for endangered species?
What is a key goal of captive-breeding programs for endangered species?
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What is a significant characteristic of the International Potato Center's approach?
What is a significant characteristic of the International Potato Center's approach?
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What is the main ecological objective of Canadian National parks?
What is the main ecological objective of Canadian National parks?
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What recent shift is observed in conservation strategies?
What recent shift is observed in conservation strategies?
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How do wildlife corridors aid in conservation?
How do wildlife corridors aid in conservation?
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What does the 'no intervention' policy in national parks entail?
What does the 'no intervention' policy in national parks entail?
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What was a significant outcome of the 1988 fires in Yellowstone Park?
What was a significant outcome of the 1988 fires in Yellowstone Park?
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Why is the establishment of large protected Nature Reserves crucial?
Why is the establishment of large protected Nature Reserves crucial?
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Study Notes
Conservation Biology
- Conservation biology is the integrated study of ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology, molecular biology, and genetics to sustain biological diversity at all levels.
Learning Outcomes
- Predict population fate based on size, genetic diversity, and inbreeding depression.
- Suggest conservation strategies for declining populations.
- Calculate effective population size, and recommend strategies to park managers.
- Justify "no intervention" policies in national parks using ecological principles.
- Classify conservation strategies based on the level of diversity targeted.
- Justify biodiversity conservation importance.
- Identify species at risk based on population ecology criteria.
- Describe human impact on ecosystem communities.
- Explain how species may not adapt to climate change.
Extinction Vortex
- Small populations (bottlenecks) are prone to extinction due to inbreeding and genetic drift.
- Inbreeding depression reduces fitness.
- Reduced genetic variability hinders adaptation to environmental changes.
- This creates a positive feedback loop, further reducing population size.
Effective Population Size (Ne)
- Ne represents the size of an idealized randomly mating population with the same level of heterozygosity as the population of interest.
- Heterozygosity is the fraction of individuals in a population that are heterozygous for a particular locus.
- Ne = N (actual population size) if the population has a balanced sex ratio, all individuals contribute equally to the next generation and simultaneous birth of each new generation, and the population size remains constant over time.
- Often Ne is less than N, reducing heterozygosity and genetic diversity.
Minimum Viable Population (MVP)
- MVP is the smallest population size where a population can sustain number and survive.
- It considers factors like Ne, individual range, mortality rate, and reproductive age.
Human Impact on Biodiversity
- Habitat loss: Changes in habitat (fragmentation, conversion to agriculture or urban areas) affect species dispersal and adaptability.
- Invasive species: Introduced species disrupt communities, increase competition, predation, or parasitism
- Overharvesting: Extensive exploitation prevents population recovery.
- Pollution: Excessive nitrogen and phosphate release causes algal blooms and oxygen depletion in aquatic ecosystems.
- Acid precipitation: Sulphur oxides react with water to form sulfuric acid, decreasing pH in lakes, impacting fish populations.
- Biomagnification: The concentration of toxins increases across trophic levels.
- Global warming: CO2 emissions increase average global temperature. Species unable to disperse, adapt, or have low genetic variation are at higher risk.
Biodiversity and Conservation Status
- Genetic diversity: Diversity within and between populations; loss limits adaptability.
- Species diversity: Variety of species in an ecosystem or biosphere; loss can be local (extirpation) or global (extinction).
- Ecosystem diversity: Variety of ecosystems; alterations can cause species loss and disrupt ecological functions.
- Status categories: Collapsed, critically endangered, endangered.
Why Protect Biodiversity
- Humans rely on biodiversity and natural resources for food, fuel, fiber, medicine, building materials, spices, and decorative items.
- Biological communities provide essential services like water purification, pollutant breakdown, soil formation, climate regulation, disaster recovery, and crop pollination.
- Ecosystem functions depend on the integrity of natural communities.
- Biodiversity is a complex evolutionary heritage—a strong moral obligation.
Biodiversity Hotspots
- Biodiversity hotspots are relatively small areas with many endemic and endangered species.
- Large proportions of plant, bird, and mammal species are concentrated in small areas.
- Protecting hotspots is crucial due to the high concentration of species.
Conservation Initiatives
- Captive breeding programs establish genetically diverse populations for reintroduction into the wild.
- International collaboration on potato and root crops enhances access to nutritious food in developing countries.
Habitat Conservation
- Strategies shift from protecting species to entire ecosystems.
- Fragmentation reduces species diversity.
- Corridors connect habitat patches for species movement.
- Large protected areas maintain ecosystem integrity and biodiversity.
"No Intervention" Policy
- Natural disturbances like floods and fires are often allowed to occur naturally.
- Many species depend on periodic disturbances for germination or growth.
Conservation Status Assessments
- IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) assess species conservation status.
- Criteria include population size, distribution, threats, and life history traits.
- Ongoing assessments help track and evaluate species conservation risks.
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Description
This quiz on Conservation Biology covers critical concepts such as population dynamics, genetic diversity, and the significance of conservation strategies. You'll explore the extinction vortex, human impacts on ecosystems, and the importance of biodiversity. Test your understanding of these vital ecological principles and their applications in real-world conservation efforts.
